Detectives are closing cases at a higher rate, however. With the arrests of two suspects this week, the homicide unit has cleared nearly 60 percent of its cases, compared with 46 percent at this point last year. As of Wednesday, 34 cases had been closed, compared with 20 at this point last year.
One of the suspects is 15-year-old Christopher Briggs, who, accompanied by an attorney, turned himself in at the Northeastern District on Wednesday in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Keon Cameron, Moses said.
Cameron allegedly got into a fight with Briggs about 3 a.m. Saturday in the 1800 block of E. 28th St. Detective Roscoe Lewis wrote in charging documents that Briggs said he would leave and come back to "take care of" Cameron; he returned with a gun and fatally shot Cameron, police say.
Detectives also closed the Aug. 20, 2008, homicide of Eric Brown, 20, who was found lying on the ground in the 1000 block of Edmondson Ave. about 6 p.m. suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Tavon Julian Grey, 26, was charged March 16 and picked up on a warrant early Thursday.
In addition, police have identified two homicide victims from the Memorial Day weekend, when five people were killed. Sean Howard, 24, was identified as the man shot Monday in the 3100 block of Cliftmont Ave. Howard, whose last known address was in the 3100 block of Lawnview Ave., was on probation.
A man shot at Sinclair Lane and North Chester Street on Sunday was identified as 41-year-old Quite S. Vanterpool of the 1700 block of E. North Ave. Police said Vanterpool was on parole and had past murder and arson convictions.
Baltimore Sun reporter Brent Jones contributed to this article.
